| SOLAR Records | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Founder | Dick Griffey |
| Status | Active |
| Distributors | RCA Records (1977-1981) Elektra Records (1981-1986) Capitol Records (1986-1989) Epic Records (1989-1993) |
| Genre | |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Location | Los Angeles, California |
SOLAR (acronym forSound of Los AngelesRecords)[1][2][3] was an Americanrecord label founded in 1978 byDick Griffey, reconstituted out ofSoul Train Records only three years after it was founded withSoul Train television show host and creatorDon Cornelius.[2]
SOLAR began in 1975 asSoul Train Records, founded by Dick Griffey andSoul Train creator Don Cornelius.[2] The first act they signed was an R&B vocal quartet they namedThe Soul Train Gang (Gerald Brown, Terry Brown, Judy Jones, Patricia Williamson, and later Denise Smith), who performed one of Soul Train's many themes, "Soul Train '75". Their first album was entitledDon Cornelius Presents The Soul Train Gang. In 1976, their second album,The Soul Train Gang, produced byPhilly's Norman Harris, was released. The Gang broke up in 1977.
That same year, singer/drummer Arnie Oliver, aka Ahaguna G. Sun, and singer/guitarist Werner "Bear" Schuchner formed Sunbear, a little-known soul/funk vocal duo that recorded in Los Angeles in 1977.Earth, Wind & Fire was a heavy influence on Sunbear, and there were also hints ofTower of Power andEl Chicano in their sound. In 1977, Sunbear recorded its self-titled debut album for Don Cornelius and Dick Griffey's Soul Train Records, which evolved into Solar Records after Cornelius' departure in 1978. Sunbear broke up without ever recording a second album, and Oliver and Schuchner both went on to pursue other activities in the R&B world. Oliver became a member ofFrankie Beverly'sMaze, while Schuchner played guitar on albums by the Whispers, the Soul Train Gang,High Inergy, and others. In 1980, the Whispers recorded Sunbear's ballad "Fantasy" for their hit albumImagination.
Griffey formed a collective calledShalamar, using a host of session singers to record "Uptown Festival," a disco-length medley of earlyMotown hits.[4] After scoring a hit with the recording, he looked to Cornelius to help him put together an actual group to maintain the impact. In 1977,Soul Train dancersJody Watley andJeffrey Daniels and formerSoul Train Gang member Gerald Brown (who was eventually replaced byHoward Hewett) were recruited to form the new Shalamar, which would become the fledgling label's centerpiece. Cornelius wanted to shut down the label and Griffey paid him $300,000 for his interests in the label. Cornelius wanted to focus his energies on the TV show — which was a monster hit and required his full attention to keep it so.[4] With legalities now taken care of, Griffey reorganized Soul Train Records into the newly founded SOLAR label in late 1977.[4] Griffey and Cornelius remained good friends, and as a result SOLAR maintained close ties to theSoul Train show.
SOLAR was known for several others who enjoyed success, including:The Whispers,Dynasty,Lakeside,Midnight Star,Klymaxx,Calloway,Carrie Lucas,Collage andThe Deele — which introduced singer/songwriter/producerKenneth "Babyface" Edmonds[1][2] and future music executiveAntonio "L.A." Reid.[3] Griffey had always believed in giving new talents the opportunity to create and develop their craft, and he was introduced to songwriters/producersJimmy Jam and Terry Lewis by his A & R rep Dina R. Andrews (Dina Andrews Management Inc) who was the team's first manager,Reggie and Vincent Calloway, andLeon F. Sylvers III. The "SOLAR sound" was a collective effort, with artists working on each other's sessions and artists encouraged to be creative. Sylvers became SOLAR's house producer in 1978 and his signature basslines and productions helped mould the hit sound of SOLAR, which is funky, progressive dance music infused with soul and disco.
By 1987, the label began to see its commercial fortunes decline. Contributing to the decline wereA&R problems with Shalamar, primarily, maintaining the group's identity and momentum as former members Hewett and Watley had departed and were having successful solo careers on other labels. The shifting musical directions of R&B, dance and popular music in general in the late 1980s and early 1990s also contributed to their decline.
From 1977 to 1981, SOLAR was distributed byRCA Records, which had also distributed the Soul Train Records label during its two-year run. Griffey formed a second label,Constellation Records (no relation to the Chicago-based indie label founded byEwart Abner) in 1981, which focused on more contemporary and top forty-geared acts to Griffey's more traditionally "urban" establishment (includingJon Gibson andKlymaxx). Upon its formation, Constellation was distributed throughElektra/Asylum Records, making it only natural for the main SOLAR label to jump ship to Elektra for distribution when it left RCA.
In the meantime, the Constellation label moved toMCA Records for distribution in 1984. Shortly thereafter, Griffey decided to abandon contemporary music to focus all of his attention on running SOLAR, and retaining its sonic theme. Subsequently, MCA bought the Constellation imprint and absorbed its artists, includingKlymaxx, which had been its biggest act.
SOLAR's relationship with Elektra lasted until 1986.[5] After the Elektra distribution deal expired, SOLAR briefly took up distribution withCapitol Records until 1989, at which time it signed a new distribution deal withEpic Records, which oversaw what would ultimately become its twilight years.[5] In the early 1990s, the label released its last recordings- 1991'sNow byRichie Havens and Times 3's eponymous debut album, thesoundtrack to the 1992 filmDeep Cover,3rd Avenue's 1992 debut albumLet's Talk About Love, and 1993 The Deele albumAn Invitation To Love.
Part of the label's back catalog, which includes the pre-1984 Constellation back catalog, were licensed byEMI in 1996, with many of its releases and compilations being re-issued throughThe Right Stuff Records.[6] In 2009,Unidisc Music purchased part of SOLAR's back catalog for Canada, US and South African territories. BMG owns the rights to part of the SOLAR catalog in the UK and Europe although the rights to SOLAR RECORDS as a trade mark and brand belong to the family of the lateDick Griffey according to the Intellectual Property Office.
In 2018, 40 years after the founding of SOLAR Records, the label was relaunched in the UK by the family of the lateDick Griffey, according to issue 77 of UK Publication 'Soul Survivors Magazine' which featured an interview with both Carrie Lucas and new CEO Jessie Tsang.[7] At the helm of the relaunched label is Griffey's widowCarrie Lucas, his daughterCarolyn Griffey and British Chinese music promoter and IP paralegal consultant Jessie Tsang. Solar Records incorporates the Soul Train Records and Soul Train Club brands. Jessie Tsang is CEO with Sonia Damney as Vice President. In 2022 Carrie Lucas, Carolyn Griffey, Dina Andrews, Virgil Roberts participated with US Cable channel TV One for a special episode of the UNSUNG TV series on Dick Griffey and Solar Records. The episode premiered on November 6, 2022.
The Solar Records legacy continues today with the Solar Records and Soul Train Records brands licensed to Solar Legacy Entertainment Ltd and Galaxy of Stars Ltd. The Solar Legacy Entertainment Ltd company includes attorney at law Virgil Roberts[8] who previously was president and legal counsel for Solar Records andDick Griffey. Solar Legacy Entertainment also acquired music catalog rights to historic master recordings and also new music catalogs. Other ventures include the continuation of the 'Soul Train Club'[9] radio show which has been broadcasting onSolar Radio since 2017.
As of 2023 Galaxy of Stars Ltd oversees the live entertainment and music interests of the brands which includes the Soul Train Club and Solar Records. In December 2023 Solar entered into a TV and Film publishing deal due to be announced in 2024. Earmarked for release in 2024 is a new single by Kimberly Brown ofSounds of Blackness.
As of 2024 Virgil Roberts and Jessie Tsang on behalf of Solar Legacy Entertainment Ltd, entered into a deal with the famed Hollywood author, TV and film producerTina Andrews for aDick Griffey andSolar Records motion picture deal. Solar Legacy Entertainment Ltd also own a number of master recording rights to recordings bySoul Train Gang,Carrie Lucas,Klymaxx,Sunbear,Snoop Dogg andDr Dre and the sound track to the filmDeep Cover. Part of Solar's new catalog includes new music byLeon Sylvers III, Dana Meyers,Freddie Lee Peterkin, Brian K Morgan and Katie Goulet andDick Griffey's grandson Kid3rd.
Tania Carmenatti, Dana Meyers, Dennis "Den Den" Nelson,Dynasty members Nidra Beard & William Shelby,The Time member Ricky Darnell "Freeze" Smith,The Sylvers member Charmaine Sylvers, and Johnny Thomas Jr. were frequent writing collaborators on various SOLAR albums and/or for various SOLAR acts. Credits are courtesy ofTidal andSpotify. (A majority of Beard and Shelby's written contributions to their own group are omitted)
| Title | Year | Artist | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Second Time Around"(Shelby) | 1979 | Shalamar | Big Fun | SOLAR |
| "Are You Dancing"(Shelby) | Carrie Lucas | Carrie Lucas in Danceland | SOLAR | |
| "I'm Gonna Make You Happy"(Shelby) | ||||
| "And the Beat Goes On"(Shelby) | The Whispers | The Whispers | SOLAR | |
| "Out the Box"(Shelby) | ||||
| "I've Just Begun to Love You"(Shelby, Smith) | 1980 | Dynasty | Adventures in the Land of Music | SOLAR |
| "Adventures in the Land of Music"(Smith) | ||||
| "It's a Love Thing"(Meyers, Shelby) | The Whispers | Imagination | SOLAR | |
| "I Can Make It Better"(Meyers, Shelby) | ||||
| "Attention to My Baby"(Shelby) | Shalamar | Three for Love | SOLAR | |
| "Somewhere There's a Love"(Shelby) | ||||
| "Some Things Never Change"(Meyers, Shelby) | ||||
| "Make That Move"(Shelby, Smith) | ||||
| "This Is for the Lover in You"(Meyers) | ||||
| "Work It Out"(Beard) | ||||
| "Pop Along Kid"(Beard) | ||||
| "It's Not What You Got (It's How You Use It)"(Shelby) | Carrie Lucas | Portrait of Carrie | SOLAR | |
| "Career Girl"(Beard) | ||||
| "Fashion"(Beard, Shelby) | ||||
| "In The Raw"(Meyers, Sylvers) | 1981 | The Whispers | Love Is Where You Find It | SOLAR |
| "Turn Me Out"(Beard, Meyers, Shelby) | ||||
| "Cruisin' In"(Beard, Sylvers) | ||||
| "Emergency"(Beard, Shelby) | ||||
| "Reach Out"(Beard, Sylvers) | The Sylvers | Concept | SOLAR | |
| "Come Back Lover, Come Back"(Beard, Shelby) | ||||
| "I'm Getting Over"(Beard, Shelby) | ||||
| "Taking Over"(Meyers, Sylvers) | ||||
| "P.S. (The Unfinished Letter)"(Meyers) | ||||
| "Pain Got a Hold on Me"(Meyers, Shelby) | Dynasty | The Second Adventure | SOLAR | |
| "High Time (I Left You Baby)"(Meyers) | ||||
| "Sweeter as the Days Go By"(Smith) | Shalamar | Go for It | SOLAR | |
| "Good Feelings"(Shelby) | ||||
| "Strokin'"(Smith) | 1982 | Dynasty | Right Back at Cha! | SOLAR |
| "Does That Ring A Bell"(Meyers) | ||||
| "Straight Out"(Meyers) | ||||
| "That's the Way I Feel About You"(Meyers, Shelby, Smith) | ||||
| "A Night to Remember"(Beard, Meyers, Sylvers) | Shalamar | Friends | SOLAR | |
| "Help Me"(Beard) | ||||
| "On Top Of The World"(Meyers) | ||||
| "I Don't Wanna Be the Last to Know"(Beard, Shelby) | ||||
| "Friends"(Beard, Shelby) | ||||
| "Playing To Win"(Sylvers) | ||||
| "I Just Stopped Because I Had To"(Beard) | ||||
| "There It Is"(Beard, Meyers, Sylvers) | ||||
| "I Can Make You Feel Good"(Shelby) | ||||
| "The Man In My Life"(Meyers) | Klymaxx | Girls Will Be Girls | SOLAR | |
| "Don't Hide Your Love"(Shelby) | ||||
| "Men"(Shelby) | Carrie Lucas | Still in Love | SOLAR | |
| "I Just Can't Do Without Your Love"(Shelby) | ||||
| "Keep Your Love Around"(Meyers, Shelby) | 1983 | The Whispers | Love for Love | SOLAR |
| "Closer"(Meyers) | Shalamar | The Look | SOLAR | |
| "Disappearing Act"(Meyers) | ||||
| "Over and Over"(Shelby) | ||||
| "You Won't Miss Love (Until It's Gone)"(Smith) | ||||
| "So Good"(Smith) | 1984 | The Whispers | So Good | SOLAR |
| "In One Love And Out The Other"(Meyers) | The Sylvers | Bizarre | Geffen | |
| "Got To Be Crazy"(Meyers) | ||||
| "Step Right Up"(Meyers) | 1985 | Collage | Shine The Light | MCA |
| "Tuff Love"(Beard, Shelby, Smith) | 1986 | Dynasty | Daydreamin' | SOLAR |
| "Love I Can Bank On"(Meyers (Producer)) | 1987 | Lakeside | Power | SOLAR |
| "Way Out"(Shelby) | 1988 | Dynasty | Out of Control | SOLAR |
| "You Come First"(Meyers (Producer)) | 1989 | Ralph Butler | Sincerely Yours | SOLAR |
| "Cheap Shot"(Carmenatti, Nelson) | 1990 | Absolute | For All Seasons | SOLAR / Epic |
| "Crazy Little Thing Called Love"(Carmenatti, Nelson) | ||||
| "I Count On Your Love"(Smith) | ||||
| "For All Seasons"(Carmenatti, Smith) | ||||
| "Kiss Me"(Smith) | ||||
| "When We're Eye To Eye"(Smith) | ||||
| "Why Lead Me On"(Carmenatti, Thomas) | Shalamar | Wake Up | SOLAR / Epic | |
| "Pink Box"(Carmenatti, Thomas) | ||||
| "Let The Moon Shine"(Carmenatti) | Lakeside | Party Patrol | SOLAR / Epic | |
| "Money"(Nelson) | ||||
| "Sailing"(Nelson) | ||||
| "So Fine"(Shelby, Smith) | ||||
| "You're The Only One"(Smith) | ||||
| "Gotta Lambada"(Carmenatti, Smith) | Absolute | Lambada Soundtrack | SOLAR / Epic | |
| "Rock Lambada"(Smith, Thomas) | Johnny Thomas Jr. | |||
| "Sata"(Carmenatti, Nelson) | Brenda K. Starr | |||
| "Give It Up"(Carmenatti, Nelson) | Judette Warren | |||
| "Another Lover"(Carmenatti, Nelson) | 1992 | 3rd Avenue | Let's Talk About Love | SOLAR / Epic |
| "Sneaking In The Alley With Sally"(Nelson) | ||||
| "Annie's Apple Pie"(Carmenatti, Thomas) | ||||
| "Let's Take Our Time"(Nelson) | ||||
| "Let's Talk About Love"(Nelson) | ||||
| "Playing The Fool"(Shelby, Smith) | ||||
| "Show Me"(Carmenatti) | ||||
| "Love Me Just A Little Bit More"(Carmenatti, Nelson) | ||||
| "One Kiss"(Nelson) | ||||
| "Imagination"(Carmenatti) | 1993 | The Deele | An Invitation To Love | SOLAR |
| "Feel It"(Carmenatti) | ||||
| "Rewind The Tape"(Carmenatti) | ||||
| "You're So Good To Me"(Smith, Thomas) | 1995 | The Whispers | Toast To The Ladies | Capitol |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
